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Montana

Yellowstone Safari: Journey Through a Dramatic Landscape

Program No. 1646RJ
Join a naturalist in Yellowstone for a grand adventure that’ll see you safari through the park to discover the natural activity of indigenous wildlife and the rhythms of the seasons.
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Start
National ParksSmall GroupNature & Environment
Length
6 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,399
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals ( 5B, 4L, 5D )
3 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration is from 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, check in with your program staff to get your schedule for the week and other important information. Confirm when and where your Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please check in with your Instructor and Group Leader to get the program details for the week.
Dinner:
In a restaurant adjacent to the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation: The Group Leader for this program will greet everyone and will lead your introductions. You will review the program schedule for the week, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and will have questions answered. This program will be staffed by both a resident Instructor, who will give lectures and lead field trips, and a Group Leader, who will deal primarily with logistics. “America the Beautiful” passes cover entrance fees at national parks and wildlife refuges for up to 4 adults. If you have one of these national park passes, please bring it with you to the program and on our field trips to benefit other members of the group. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “free time” and “at leisure” offer breaks in the group schedule to give you opportunities to do what you like. Please use these times to relax or enjoy sights and experiences that are not included with your daily schedule. These are periods of time to help make your experience even more meaningful and memorable. Your Instructor and Group Leader can help offer suggestions to occupy these times, should you need assistance. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and travel distances and times may change unexpectedly due to conditions such as weather, wildlife sightings, park construction, etc. In the event of changes, you will be alerted as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the days ahead. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles total over several walks throughout the day; boardwalks, paved and dirt trails, uneven terrain. Driving approximately140 miles with stops along the way; about 3 hours total spent aboard motorcoach.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
Enjoy an introductory lecture given by our instructor. During our morning class time our instructor will put Yellowstone into perspective as we hit the road and discuss some of the geologic processes that have shaped Yellowstone's landscape through the ages. We’ll consider tectonic plate movement, the Yellowstone hot spot, and how the Park's unique ecosystem and diverse habitats are a direct result of glaciations, as well as tectonic and volcanic activity. We will check out of our hotel, meet our motorcoach, and transfer to Yellowstone Park via the beautiful Gallatin Canyon.
Lunch:
You will stop in the park for sack lunches.
Afternoon:
Continue your safari journey towards Hayden Valley to the Canyon of the Yellowstone with stops along the way at various sites. Your Instructor will interpret and share with you the exciting scenes out the windows. Hayden Valley, which is known as one of the best locations to view wildlife in Yellowstone, will lead you to Canyon Village. Upon arrival, you will check into the hotel with some time to relax and explore the grounds before dinner.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in Canyon Village.
Evening:
Optional drive to Hayden Valley for wildlife viewing.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; boardwalks, paved and dirt trails with some uneven terrain. Driving approximately 95 miles; about 2-3 hours total.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at a restaurant in Canyon Village.
Morning:
You will set out aboard your motorcoach for a day discovering Yellowstone's Southern or lower loop. Enjoy onboard commentary by your Instructor. Your study will focus on animal habitat and seasonal adaptations which will including the ecology of local wildlife and plants and the connections they have with the life cycle of animals. Along the way, you will stop intermittently for interpretive walks with your Instructor.
Lunch:
You will have a sack lunch during one of the stops along the way.
Afternoon:
Your journey will continue on as we continue the route. You will move on to see Old Faithful, the heart of Yellowstone. Upon arrival, you will walk with your Instructor to explore the Upper Geyser Basin. You will see Old Faithful erupt, the Firehole River, as well as a large variety of hot springs, fumaroles, and other geysers. Late afternoon transfer back to Canyon Village.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in Canyon Village.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; boardwalks, paved and dirt trails with some uneven terrain. Driving approximately 75 miles at low speed limits with stops along the way; about 3 hours total.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at a restaurant in Canyon Village.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we'll board our motorcoach and catch our last glimpses of the beautiful Canyon area. We'll begin heading north along Yellowstone's upper loop towards Mammoth Hot Springs and eventually, the town of Gardiner located at Yellowstone's north entrance.
Lunch:
Sack lunches in the park. .
Afternoon:
We'll board our motorcoach and continue our trek North to Gardiner,and on to Mammoth Hot Springs. As we travel our instructor will offer on board commentary and, when possible, we will stop to explore! We'll check into the hotel upon arriving in Gardiner
Dinner:
You will have dinner at a local restaurant in Gardiner, MT.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles total over several walks throughout the day; boardwalks, dirt trails, uneven terrain. Driving approximately 96 miles roundtrip; about 3.5 hours total.
Breakfast:
We will take breakfast to go in order to increase our chances of wildlife encounters in the morning.
Morning:
You will board the motorcoach and head east toward the Tower area. Your instructor will offer commentary on the bus and at various stops along the way, discussing Yellowstone's "forests of stone". While there, you will have time to view Tower Falls and Tower Creek's graceful 132-foot plunge among volcanic pinnacles. This area is known for its black bear habitat and while sightings cannot be guaranteed, you'll keep your eyes "peeled" with binoculars handy. You will continue traveling through Lamar Valley and see the beautiful wide-open reaches and rich habitat. The valley offers a wealth of wildlife and diverse vegetation. Your Instructor will talk about the evidence of an ancient flood that scoured the valley. Be ready with your binoculars as you may see pronghorn, elk, bison, meadowlarks, Sandhill Cranes, and perhaps more.
Lunch:
Sack lunches in the park
Afternoon:
After lunch, you will board the motorcoach and head back through Yellowstone's northern range. Our expedition will then head eastward to the Tower area as our naturalist discusses Yellowstone's "forests of stone" en route. Upon arrival, we’ll go on a walk with our instructor in the lead to appreciate Tower Fall and Tower Creek's graceful 132-foot plunge among volcanic pinnacles. This area is known for its black bear habitat and, while sightings cannot be guaranteed, we'll want to keep our eyes "peeled" and our binoculars handy. We’ll then set off back towards Bozeman. Check in upon arrival.
Dinner:
At the hotel conference room, you'll enjoy a farewell dinner.
Evening:
You will join your Instructor in the hotel conference room for the Yellowstone finale wrap-up session to close your week-long adventure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Sep 07, 2026 - Sep 12, 2026
Sep 01, 2025 - Sep 06, 2025
Jun 01, 2026 - Jun 06, 2026
Aug 17, 2026 - Aug 22, 2026
Sep 07, 2026 - Sep 12, 2026
Sep 7 - Sep 12, 2026 Itinerary Differences: Autumn in Yellowstone is for wildlife enthusiasts! The mysterious sounds of elk bugling can be heard across the landscape, bison are bellowing and the plants are bursting with fall colors as they make way for winter. Join our naturalists for a grand adventure as we journey through the Park, discovering the amazing diversity of life that makes its home in one of the last intact ecosystems on Earth.